Jan. 25, 1884- A fire at Stillwater Prison requires the Guard to watch prisoners while the prison is rebuilt.

Jan. 26, 1942- The 34th Infantry Division arrives in Ireland, the first American troops in the European theater.

February

Feb. 1, 2004- Elements of the 34th Infantry Division: the Division Support Command (DISCOM) and the 2nd Brigade, represent the Minnesota National Guard for the Kosovo International Security Force (KFOR) 5b in Kosovo.

Feb. 4, 1899- The Philippine Insurrection breaks out and the 13th Minnesota is sent to the fight.

Feb. 10, 1941- Mobilization of the 34th Infantry Division brought components from Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana.

Feb. 15, 1863- Joseph Burger of Company H, 2nd Minnesota Infantry, is awarded the Medal of Honor. Burger was one of a detachment of 16 men who heroically defended a wagon train against the attack of 125 cavalry, repulsed the attack, and saved the train.

Feb. 15, 1863- Corp. William A. Clark, Company H, 2nd Minnesota Infantry is awarded the Medal of Honor along with eight others from the 2nd Minnesota. Clark was one of a detachment of 16 men who heroically defended a wagon train against the attack of 125 cavalry, repulsed the attack, and saved the train.

Feb. 22, 1959- Division Support Command (DISCOM) is organized in Minneapolis for the 47th Infantry Division.

Feb. 22, 1899- With Filipinos attacking the city from the outside and an uprising developing within the city, the Minnesotans quickly found their hands full. There, companies C and M were attacked by a large group of Filipinos, while much of the district was set on fire. The 13th held their ground and were able to drive the Filipinos out of the city.

March

March 1, 1951- Two of the four squadrons from the 133rd Interceptor Group mobilize for federal duty.

March 10, 1864- The 5th Minnesota joins the Red River Campaign in Louisiana, the Union's unsuccessful attempt to capture Mobile, Ala., from the Confederate Army.

March 13, 1858- A group of local citizens intent on protecting their private property, calling themselves the Stillwater Light Guard, is formed. They eventually become the 25th Regiment of the 9th Brigade of the 5th Division of the state militia system.

March 26, 1945- Companies G & I of the 136th Infantry Regiment are cited for outstanding performance of duty in action on Northern Luzon Philippine Islands and receive the Distinguished Unit Citation.

March 31, 1950- Col. Ray Miller is promoted to Brigadier General and is named the Chief of Staff of the Guard Air Section.

April

April 2, 1865- The 5th Minnesota battles in Alabama during the siege and capture of Fort Blakely.

April 3, 1997- The largest state mission call-up is needed when the Red River floods communities in northwest Minnesota. Over 28,037 man days are used.

April 6, 1862- Brackett's battalions and the 1st Minnesota Light Artillery see action under General Grant at Shiloh, Tenn., in one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War.

April 9, 1942- The allies surrender to Japan after the Battle of Bataan, and members of the 194th Tank Battalion are marched across the Philippines with 75,000 other allies in what is known as the Bataan Death March.

April 12, 1861- Gov. Alexander Ramsey offers 1,000 troops to the President Lincoln in support of the union, the first governor to do so.

April 14, 1918- In light of the war against Germany, Gen. Frederick E. Resche, a German, is compelled to retire after 30 years of service in the Minnesota National Guard.

April 15, 1857- The St. Paul Light Cavalry is formed.

April 17, 1856- The Minnesota Pioneer Guard is formed, the first and original Minnesota National Guard unit and forebear to the 1/34 Brigade Combat Team.

April 21, 1945- The 34th Infantry Division captures Bologna, Italy. Pursuit of the routed enemy is halted May 2 with the German surrender in Italy.

April 29, 1898- The Minnesota National Guard is the first to volunteer for the war against Spain.

April 29, 1862- The 2nd, 4th, and 5th of Brackett's battalions and the 1st Minnesota Light Artillery participate in the Siege of Corinth, Miss.

April 30, 1942- The 135th Infantry leaves the New York harbor for additional training in Ireland.

May 1, 1945- The German 34th Division surrenders to the 34th Infantry Division after the final engagement in Italy.

May 3, 1945- A Co. 136th Infantry Regiment receives Distinguished Unit Citation. Able Company is cited for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy, in the vicinity of Tebbo, Nueva Viscaya Province, Northern Luzon, Philippines.

May 4, 1861- Secretary of War Simon Cameron asks Gov. Alexander Ramsey to re-enlist the 1st Minnesota for three years.

May 6, 1898- Gov. David Clough follows Civil War tradition and names the regiments headed for duty during the Spanish-American war the 13th, 14th, and 15th Minnesota regiments.

May 10, 1972- Military police and field artillery National Guard members are called upon during war protests at the University of Minnesota.

May 14, 1948- Gov. Luther Youngdahl calls on the Guard to patrol a meat packers strike in South St. Paul. The Guard is employed for three weeks and makes national news.

May 19, 1945- Artillerymen of the veteran 34th Red Bull Division fire more than 1,125,639 shells at the Germans in World War II, the most artillery support for the infantry in the war.

June 5, 1944- The 135th Infantry Regiment established a command post in Rome at 0130 hours becoming the first infantry regiment in the city.

June 6, 2015-
Soldiers from the Minnesota Army National Guard's Hastings-based B Company and C Company, 834th Aviation Support Battalion, 34th Combat Aviation Brigade, held a departure ceremony prior to deploying for a seven-month mobilization in support of Operation Spartan Shield.
June 7, 1936- Law enforcement receives Guard assistance to apprehend 16 escaped insane and dangerous prisoners.

June 10, 1946- The 47th Infantry Division is formed, named thus for the 47 members of the 1st Minnesota who answered the call after the Battle of Gettysburg.

June 12, 1861- Gov. Alexander Ramsey telegraphs Secretary of War John C. Calhoun that the 1st Minnesota is ready to deploy. "Send them to Harrisburg" is the reply.

June 18, 1916- President Woodrow Wilson orders National Guard units to the boarder to repel Mexican bandits. The Minnesota National Guard is stationed in New Mexico and gains its "Sandstorm Division" nickname while training in the sand and heat of the New Mexico desert.

June 22, 1861- The 1st Minnesota leaves for Harrisburg, Pa. They begin their journey by steamboat down the Mississippi River to train stations before heading East.

June 23, 1917- The 1st Minnesota Field Artillery is mobilized at Ft. Snelling to serve in France during World War I, afterwards becoming the 151st Field Artillery.

June 26, 1861- The 1st Minnesota arrives in Washington, D.C., and sets up camp near the Capitol.

June 30, 1862- The 1st Minnesota engages in the Battle of White Oaks Swamp. The regiment crosses White Oak Swamp in early morning and marches to Brackett's Ford, then to Glendale, where they fought until midnight.

July 2, 1863- The 1st Minnesota charges the Confederate line at Gettysburg. Of the 262 that charge, only 47 answer the call the following day.

July 2, 1944- The 109th Recon Squadron lands in Lemeire, France, the first Minnesota National Guard presence in continental Europe.

July 3, 1863- Corp. Henry O'Brien, Company E, 1st Minnesota Infantry, is awarded the Medal of Honor. Taking up the colors where they had fallen, Corp. O’Brien rushed ahead of his regiment, close to the muzzles of the enemy guns, and engaged in the desperate struggle in which the enemy was defeated, and though severely wounded, he held the colors until wounded a second time.

July 3, 1861- The 1st Minnesota sets foot in Confederate territory, crossing the Potomac into Virginia.

July 13, 1863- The 1st Minnesota assists other union troops in New York to put down the draft rioters.

July 18, 1917- The War Department designates National Guard troops of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota to form the 34th Infantry Division; Camp Cody, N. M., is selected as the training site.

Aug. 14, 1864- Sgt. Alonzo H. Pickle, B Company, 1st Battalion Minnesota Infantry, is awarded the Medal of Honor. Risking his life, Sgt. Pickle voluntarily went to the assistance of a wounded officer lying near the enemy line and, under fire, carried him to safety.

Aug. 18, 2014-
Air Col David Hamlar Jr is promoted to Brigadier General during a pinning ceremony, Aug 18, in St Paul. Hamlar is the first African American to achieve the rank of Brigadier General in the Minnesota National Guard.

Aug. 25, 1917- The Minnesota National Guard arrives at Camp Cody, N.M. Here they adopt the Red Bull insignia and become known as the "Sandstorm Division".

Aug. 27, 2014- The Minnesota National Guard and Minnesota Power signed a memorandum of understanding outlining plans to build a 10-megawatt utility-scale solar energy array spanning 100 acres at Camp Ripley. The project will be the largest solar energy installation on any National Guard base in the country.

Aug. 28, 1862- The 1st Minnesota marches hard to cover the Union retreat in the wake of Second Bull Run, covering 65 miles, often under fire, in four days.

Sept. 10, 1820- The cornerstone is laid for Ft Snelling. Privates are paid $5 per month to help with the construction.

Sept. 11, 2001- The 148th Fighter Wing takes to the skies in response to the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. In the days that follow 148th will patrol the area of the U.S. Capitol.

Sept. 13, 2014-
More than 40 soldiers from the 204th Area Support Medical Company attended a departure ceremony in Cottage Grove, Minn, in preparation for a nine-month deployment to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt in support of Multi-National Force and Observers. The mission of the MFO is to enforce the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

Sept. 17, 1948- Men of the 179th Fighter Squadron, forbear to the 148th Fighter Wing, are mustered for the first time in Duluth.

Sept. 18, 1863- The 2nd Minnesota, in defense of Snodgrass Hill, suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Chickamauga. In three engagements at Chickamauga, 162 of 384 men were lost.

Sept. 19, 1863- Sgt. Axel H. Reed, Company K, 2nd Minnesota Infantry, is awarded the Medal of Honor. While under arrest at Chickamauga, Ga., Sgt. Reed left his place in the rear and voluntarily went to the line of battle, secured a rifle, fought gallantly during the two day battle, and was released from arrest in recognition of his bravery.

Sept. 26, 1918-151 Field Artillery is engaged at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The battle lasts uninterrupted for six weeks.

Sept. 27, 1945- The Red Bull Division begins to leave the European theatre for home after 44 months in war. The Division participates in six major Army campaigns in North Africa and Italy, and is credited with amassing 517 days of front line combat, more than any other U.S. division.

Oct. 1, 1961- The Minnesota Air National Guard is placed on active duty in response to the Berlin Crisis.

Oct. 2, 1920- Ray Miller flew General Rhinow and Garis, completing their 8-day, 1,600 mile flight to Washington, D.C., with the goal of convincing the Militia Bureau of the need to form an Air National Guard. The first Air Guard unit is formed in Minnesota in 1921.

Oct. 5, 1993- Units from across the Twin Cities metro are called up to assist transportation efforts for the disabled and sick.

Oct. 8, 2015-
More than 150 Soldiers from the Minnesota Army National Guard's Willmar-based 682nd Engineer Battalion held a departure ceremony for their eleven-month mobilization in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

Oct. 12, 1918- The Guard is called out to the Moose Lake / Cloquet area to assist in rescue and firefighting, as 250,000 acres burn and 500 lives are lost.

Oct. 12, 1990- The 109th Airlift Squadron is activated in response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.

Oct. 12, 1899- The highly decorated Minnesota 13th Regiment returns to the Twin Cities and is met by President William McKinley after fighting in the Philippines.

Oct. 13, 1863- The 1st Minnesota begins fighting in the Bristoe Campaign, fought in Virginia under Maj. Gen. George G. Meade against Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Nov. 15, 1864- The 4th Minnesota begins its engagement in Sherman's March to the Sea.

Nov. 16, 2014- The MNNG announced the deployment of nearly 700 Minnesota Army National Guard Soldiers from the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division in support humanitarian relief in Liberia in response to the Ebola virus outbreak. They would replace the 101st Infantry Division. The mission was later cancelled.

Nov. 19, 1942- The 175th Field Artillery fires the first American rounds at the Germans in World War II.